Enable Your User Account

Overview

This section provides an overview of RDS Secure Website user account maintenance.

Due to the sensitive nature of this data, the user should contact the RDS Center directly when assistance is required. One individual should not contact the RDS Center on another individual's behalf. Do not include any Protected Health Information (PHI), as defined in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), or Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in the correspondence, such as User ID, Password, MBI, SSN, DOB, etc.

Federal Security Regulations require that a user log into CMS' RDS Secure Website at least every 180 days to maintain an active account. If you do not log into the RDS Secure Website at least every 180 days, your user account will become disabled.

User Management is the responsibility of the Plan Sponsor. If your user account becomes disabled, refer to Step-by-Step Instructions: Enable Your User Account.

Tips for Maintaining an Active Account

1. Keep user accounts active. Maintaining an active user account is essential to RDS Program participation including submitting applications and completing Reconciliation. CMS' RDS Center will not make payments to a Plan Sponsor if the Authorized Representative or Account Manager has an inactive user account.
2. Log into the RDS Secure Website at least once every 180 days. This maintains an active user account status. CMS' RDS Center understands that certain users of the RDS Secure Website may need to log in more often than others. However, Federal Security Regulations mandate this rule.
3. Remind new users to log into the RDS Secure Website. The rule applies to new users even if they have never logged into the RDS Secure Website. New users have 180 days to log into the RDS Secure Website from the date they are activated and are required to log in at least once every 180 days thereafter to maintain an active account.
4. Beware of critical path users who don't log in frequently. An Authorized Representative with an inactive user account cannot submit an application or Reconciliation payment request, and an Actuary with an inactive user account cannot sign the Attestation Agreement.
5. Use the warning email as a reminder. CMS' RDS Center sends a warning email when a user account is about to be disabled. Use this email as a reminder. Select the link in the email and log into the RDS Secure Website. Doing this resets the 180-day clock and keeps your account active.
6. Check spam filters. Take the necessary steps to ensure that warning emails are received and not marked as "spam" or automatically deleted for any other reason. Make the necessary adjustments to your email account, or contact your network administrator to ensure that emails sent from the following email addresses are not blocked by any spam filters or Blocked Senders List:
   
   • RDS_Hearings@cms.hhs.gov
   • RDSAppeals@cms.hhs.gov
   • RDSPayment@cms.hhs.gov
   • RDS@cms.hhs.gov

Return to top

Step-by-Step Instructions

This section provides step-by-step instructions to enable your RDS Secure Website user account.

Note: If CMS' RDS Center has detected an issue with your email address, you may be asked to verify it in the process of enabling your account.

1. To begin the process to enable your user account, select the Enable Account link in your "RDS Secure Website User Account Disabled" email. You will be directed to the Validate Person Information page. This link can only be used once. If the link has expired, you will be directed to an error page and will need to follow the instructions to receive a new link.

   

   Note: If you do not have the "RDS Secure Website User Account Disabled" email, you can request to re-send the email by selecting the Re-send link in the error message that will display if you attempt to log in on the Login page, or when you are trying to complete the Request Forgotten Login ID or Forgot Password processes.

On the Validate Person Information page:

An asterisk (*) indicates a required field.

2. *Enter your Email Address.
3. *Enter your Date of Birth.
4. *Enter your Social Security Number.

5. Select Continue to proceed to the Reset Password page, or select Cancel to return to the RDS Program Website homepage.

   

On the Success popup:

6. A Success message displays stating that your account has been enabled. Select Exit.

   

On the Login page:

An asterisk (*) indicates a required field.

7. *Enter your Login ID.
8. *Enter your Password.
9. *Enter your MFA Token.

10. Select Login.

    

On the Change Password page:

An asterisk (*) indicates a required field.

11. *Enter your Current Password.
12. *Enter a New Password based on the Password Requirements.
13. *Re-enter New Password for verification.

14. Select Change Password.

    

On the Reset Password Success pop-up:

15. A Success message displays stating that your Password was changed successfully. Select Exit to return to the Login page.

    

Return to top